Learn to use vivid verbs with a few strategies outlined here.

1. Freedom from To+Be Verbs
Make Your Verbs Show Instead of Tell

2. Know your to+be verbs…
 Am
 Is
 Are
 Was
 Were

3. Why these verbs don’t show…
 These verbs express a state of being
◦ I am sad.
◦ He is quiet.
◦ We were late.
◦ They are happy.
◦ She was uncertain.

4. The sentences describe, but they
don’t show the action that creates
these feelings and conditions…
• I am sad.
◦ What does a person do when they are sad?
◦ How does a person walk, talk, respond to
others?

5. A quick fix…
1. Put adjective at beginning of sentence.
2. Write a 4-5 word sentence using an
ACTION VERB that shows what the
“sad” person is DOING.
3. Use modifiers that describe well; do not
use very, got, a lot, things, stuff.

6. Write the sentence…
 Sad, I hung my head.
 Quiet, he watched the others.
 Late, we sneaked in the back door.
 Ecstatic, they laughed and danced.
 Uncertain, she glanced at the floor.

7. Another fix…
 1. Consider the degree to which the
subject is feeling or is experiencing the
condition
 2. Use complex sentences showing a
relationship between the condition and
causes, results or factors contributing to
the condition.

8. Write the sentence…
 I was sad. (original)
 Even though I cried all night, I couldn’t
stop crying the next day or the day after
that. (devastated)
 Although my mom told me everything
was for the best, I couldn’t stop thinking
about how my life had changed for the
worse. (sad, but not devastated)

9. Another fix
 Use a compound sentence.
 I was sad. (original)
 I missed her, but I knew she was in a
better place. (sad, but hopeful)
 Notice that the showing sentence doesn’t
use the word “sad.” It SHOWS “sad.”

10. Use these strategies…
 …and be free from “to+be”!
◦ Am
◦ Is
◦ Are
◦ Was
◦ Were